At first, Tristania album is based on Melodic Death Metal riffs with keyboard dominant, intimidating, and with the choir. Doom Metal is a strong influence, which can be heard slow, melancholic riffing.

Tristania puts many women at the opera vocals, choirs, and classical instruments like the pipe organ, piano, flute and violin.

At the beginning of the album, Tristania also highlight the combination of "Harsh Vocals" Morten Veland, with female opera vocals, and gothic choirs.

Tristania lyrics theme of sadness and despair.

The first album Tristania, Widow's Weeds, recorded in late 1997 and released in early 1998. This album is the album Symphonic Metal with elements of various genres, including Gothic Metal, Death Metal, classical music, and Black Metal.

Tristania doing their first tour outside of Norway, support Lacrimosa in Belgium and Mind Over Matter Festival in Austria in August 1998. Later that same year, Tristania continue their first European tour together Solefald and Haggard.

February 2005, Tristania tour of Europe and Latin America together with Nightwish, Gothminister, and Kreator. Tristania also performed at Wacken Open Air 2005.

On 12 May 2010, Tristania announce their 6th album title, Rubicon, which was released on June 9, 2010, and is set between 25 August 2010 and August 31, 2010.